Roost It

I shot my mouth off on a previous Paul Wheatley thread and I'm glad those posts were deleted. Sorry to anyone who was offended and thanks to Paul Wheatley for your career at the Demons. Watching the game yesterday reminded me again how much I love watching the Demons play football and for 9 years Wheatley has been part of that journey. Thanks also to the moderators who kept the piece of rice paper intact that allowed me to continue posting on this site. Roost It. P.S. I'm really glad the last 3 years of football are done and dusted, roll on 2010

1. Scully 2. Butcher 3. Trengove 4. Morabito 5. Rohan 6. Talia 17. Jetta (Total guess, based on 3 minutes of highlights) Do we have a good enough midfield so we can take Butcher? That for mine is the question the recruiters will be asking themselves. He's going to go top 5 or as he's an undoubted talent, but is he as good as Trengove or Morabito? I hope so if this is the draft order. Roll on November 26.

None of us ever will be.

It would take 100 years of cheating to lose the moral high ground to Carlton

31, and tell him to hit like Barassi

Well after my brain fade on the Wheatley retirement thread i thought I owed it

Bottom V Top, Hell V Heaven, Demons V Saints, Bad V Good, Draft Hope V Premeirship Hope, Melbourne V St. Kilda. One team playing to lose, the other couldn't lose if it tried. One squad moving from veterans to the young, the other fimly entrenched in the here and now. One group of supporters coming to farewell the past and witness the future, or at least part of it, the other group coming because it's their first chance to see their heroes at the home of Football. Like Mecca for Muslims, Bodhgaya for Buddhists, Jerusalem for Christians, the local clinic for Pies fans, it's a must to come to the MCG, to revel in the history, to breath in the future and to hope, to hope that in 4 weeks time it's their team that's alive and holding up that Cup. In reality, the game will be about finishing off a season that for Melbourne finished long ago, with just the need to lose once more to receive the final input of hope for the future. That of Thomas "second Son of God" Scully, the annoited heir apparent to the throne held for a year by one Jackyboy "Son of God" Watts. For the Melbourne faithful it's one more position filled toward that elusive 13th premeirship team. If Scully and Watts turn out to be half as good as is hoped, no expected, then Melbourne is in safe hands. For being a Melbourne supporter is and for a long time, has been about hope, hope that one day we will be feared again, one day we will be winners again. For mine I feel that day is coming. A day when the September sun shines on a Dais with Red and Blue balloons filling the air, 104,879 rabid fans celebrating in the glory that is the coming of the Lord, or in this case, Melbourne Premeirship captain Jack Watts to receive his Norm Smith Medal. That day had it's seeds in the here and now. Jim Stynes, Chris Connolly, Cameron Schwab and a commited Melbourne Board and family has planted those seeds, Dean Bailey is tending those seeds, ensuring that we get an excellent strike rate, one that offers us the opportunity we so richly deserve. So when you wake up on Sunday and think why would I want to go to the Football today? Think of the past, think of Matty Whelan's shoulder and James Hird's head, think of his dash from half back, think of the tackles, think of his heart. Think of Paul Wheatley's first super goal, think of his efforts to overcome injury, think of his love for the jumper. Remember Russell Robertson's trademark leap, think of all those goals and think of his ability to do it for this great club. For F**k's sake if that doesn't get you there then come and see the future. Watch as Liam Jurrah does things that only he can do, watch as Aaron Davey mesmerises the opposition with his grace and flair, watch as Nathan Jones puts his head over the ball time and time again, watch a revitalised Jared Rivers back into a pack to repel another attack, watch as you witness the makings of the next great AFL team. As supporters we have a duty, a duty to support our team, so get out of bed, get your gear on and get on down to the G, because there's 22 players, a coach, a truly dedicated President and countless others who are all going to be there giving it there all to put this club back on top where it belongs! Saints by 62,

Richmond's list is the worst in the league. There is 20+ players needing to be cut over the next 3 yeras and not one decent draft pick to replace them with. They are in for a lengthy run near the bottom of the ladder and Deledio knows this. If a deal not including picks 1 and 2 can be done go for it. I'd say he knows how bad they are going to be for the next decade and wants to come to a club with some hope and some room in the cap to fit him. Sounds like MFC must be a chance. Having said this he'll probably sign with the Tiges, he strikes me as a one club player.

I'm better than Newton

I still think the club will choose Butcher and in 3 years time we'll all be stoked they did.

From all that I read and listen too, he's an excellent motivator. Tactically he got us to the win - loss ratio we needed and in doing so snared us 2 picks, learnt alot about the players and developed their flexiibility. I understand your queries with him and why you wouldn't resign him just yet. I just think the club needs the stability and I believe Dean has done enough to earn the right to another year, thus killing "2 birds with the one football"

He needs to pump some iron

You'd go close. But why not coax him into the preseason draft with a good salary{performance based of course} and get him for free

Another thing to remember. Do we seriously want to be looking for another coach next year? We need stability almost as much as a good coach. I was in the wait and see camp but I'm not anymore. Bailey hasn't set a foot wrong and deserves 2 years to continue his job. I mean what's the worst that can happen - 2 more years of sound player development, sounds pretty good to me. What does the club do otherwise? So we're sitting 1 and 10 next year and we decide to sack Bailey, What then? Connolly? Lyon? Viney? More coaching sub commitees? less time focused on the job at hand. We can't afford to become a rabble again, we don't have that luxury.

we do one of them is called James Strauss that's all.

They don't have a crystal ball. One of the main things they look at is potential. Ask Luke Molan what can happen next.

Yarran was probably the most skilled player taken last year. It had nothing to do with him being a "flashy aboriginal player" His problem thus far has been his attitude. We've not seen anything like the best of Yarran yet. Carlton have a very very good player on their hands.

I think you mean "Much anger I sense in him" He's also a lousy speller, but I think that's more my issue than his

In 10 years, Melbourne would have won 4 premeirships, Jack Watts and Tom Scully will be Brownlow medallists and they'll only be 28. We won't even care about GWS or GC17 for that matter.

As you've told us you're not an average person with half a brain did you think to ask how is foot is and will he be ready at the start of preseason training?

If the 2 teams mean the AFL get an extra $250,000,000 for the TV rights over 5 years then quite clearly there's plenty of money to go around. Even if they only got an extra 150,000,000 the money would be easily recouped in the following years. The monies not a problem, hasn't been for years because whether we agree or not the AFL run a good "business" and have done since people moaned about WC entering the competition.

As a football follower I would much prefer a team playing out of Tassie but as a business man I'd have to agree with the AFL and go to Western Sydney. It's a massive growth area where all codes are looking for a foothold. The AFL is the biggest sports brand in the country, with mountains of cash and more coming. They are looking at both new teams as 20 - 25 year projects and can afford to help them for this time. They won't need big crowds, it'as much to do with TV dollars as anything else. These same TV dollars will help out guess who? The MFC, a club that is beholden to the AFL for it's existence, now and into the future. While I appreciate your sentiment I think you've got it wrong on this one. GWS won't fail because the AFL won't let it fail, simple really. Remeber also that not all the people who live there and are moving there have any interest in Rugby. AFL will spend the dollars getting these people into the greatest game on earth!

Pick 17 - Melbourne - Lewis Jetta, Super quick, great skills, XY and Z factor in spades. Will be the next Aaron Davey. If he makes it this far Demons will pick him. Makes Benny and the Jetts a reality.

It was formed, at the earlist in April of 2008. The ground is being built and it's all brand new. What's the culture you talk about? Both clubs will have access to 100% of ground revenue, meaning a crowd of 18,000 will draw around $600,000. These are no white elephants my friend. These clubs will have money poured into them until they succeed. The old adage, Build it and they shall come rings true. No they won't pull massive crowds but it won't matter, neither do we

Yeh, I hope he walks for free too